Wall board joint



C. O. WALPER Get. 15, 1935.

WALL BOARD JOINT Filed June 9, 1933 I INVENTOR: CURRY ORA WALPER.

ATTORNEY- Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 9, 1933, Serial No. 675,015 In Canada May 6, 1933 6 Claims.

This invention relates to the construction of wallboard joints and particularly in that type of wallboard which comprises a gypsum core and adhering paper liners of a character well known in the art.

In the use of wallboard as the exposed surfaces on walls of dwellings and like structures, it is of great importance that no visible lines or ridges appear at the joints between the boards. Shadows caused by protruding, raised or uneven portions are frequently the cause of unsightly joints in structures of this character. In the usual type of construction it is difiicult to so apply a joint filler as to secure adequate adherence to the wallboard surface and at the same time avoid the shadow-forming exposed ridges or the like.

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved joint, which issubstantially invisible, which may be adequately formed in the erection of wallboard without undue difficulty, and which will be durable and have much less tendency to crack and mar the decorated surface of the wall.

The invention contemplates preferably laying the wallboards across the vertical studding of the framework with a view to increasing the rigidity thereof, and provides for adequate end and side joints. The invention requires the use of a joint filler and contemplates arranging the side and end edges of the board to receive the filler so that it may be smoothly merged into the wall surface without visible ridges or other projections.

Another object of the invention is to insure the free working of the joint filler so that it may be accurately merged into the wall surface and at the same time retain its full capacity to set and harden in place within the joint.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing, in which,

Figure l is a plan view of a wall section embodying one form of the invention, the joints being shown unfilled;

Fig. 2 represents the end joint a of Figure 1 in side elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 1 and represents the side joints b;

Figure 4 illustrates another way of forming the end joint 0., and

Figure 5 another method of forming the side joint b.

In the drawing, the wallboards I meet at their side edges to form the joints b and at their end edges to form the joints a. The edges of the boards are so arranged as to provide a shallow depression 2 at each of the joints to receive a joint filler, the surface of which may be merged smoothly into the wall surface, preferably with 5v the central portion slightly depressed out of the plane of the wall surface. The surface of the board at the depression is treated with a water proofing agent so as to prevent the absorption of water from the plastic filler in order that the 10 latter be worked smoothly and that it may set with its greatest strength and adherence to the board surface. This is important in making it possible to merge the surface of the filler into that of the board without leaving objectionable 15 preferably staggered or broken. In Figures 1, 2 25 and 3 shims 6 and 6a are secured to the studs 5 to provide for the formation of the depression 2 at the edges of the boards. These shims may be mounted directly on the front face of the studs as at E and on the front face of blocks 8 mounted on the sides of the studs as at Go, to provide for the formation of the side and end depressions respectively. The shims terminate a short distance from the side edge of the board to permit the edge of the board to be depressed into en- 5 gagement with the studs to form the depression for the side joints b as shown in Figure 3. The shims 6a mounted on the blocks 8 permit the end edges of the board to be depressed to form the depression for the end joints a as shown in Figure 2. The blocks 8 permit the shims 6a to be sufficiently spaced back from the end edge of the board. The shims are preferably of fibrous material and of a thickness sufficient only to permit the formation of the depression. A thickness of .04 inches is illustrative of the dimension required.

The depression for the side joints may be formed by the use of a wallboard having bevelled 50 as shown in Figure 4. This slot permits the 55 upper section of the end margin of the board to V be depressed as indicated to accommodate the joint filler.

In each case the edges of the boards are secured to the studs by means of nails 9, or the like. In erecting the boards, a small amount of joint filler is applied to the edge of the board and this forms a bond between the vertical edges of the boards. brought closely together with the joint filler applied. Then the filler is smoothed over the surface to fill the shallow depression and merge into the wall surface, as described, preferably leaving a slight depression at the centre.

A joint of this character makes it possible to avoid the formation of ridges or other projections which mar the surface of walls formed with wallboards. A minimum amount of filler is required. The sizing or Waterproofing of the margin of the board insures easy manipulation of the filler as well as its adequate hardening and adherence to the boards. Moreover, the inturned edges add rigidity to the boards and form channels within the wall which are effective in supporting a loose dry insulating material therein, without sagging of the material. This increases the insulating efficiency of such a material in the wall.

I claim:

'1. In a wall construction, vertical studs and wallboards arranged horizontally across said studs, shims asociated with said studs and spaced from the edges of said boards, the marginal edges of the boards being bent over said shims to form depressions to receive a joint filler, and a joint filler in said depressions arranged flush with and merged into the surfaces of said wallboards.

2. In a wall construction, vertical studs and The ends and sides of the boards are Wallboards arranged horizontally across said studs, supporting blocks on the studs, shims on the supporting blocks,'the end marginal edges of the boards being bent over said shims and nailed to the studs to form depressions to receive a joint filler, and a joint filler in said depressions arranged flush with and gradually merged into the surface of said wallboards.

3. In a wall construction, vertical studs and wallboards arranged horizontally across said studs, shims on said studs and spaced from the side edges of said boards whereby said edges may be bent oversaid shims and nailed to each stud to form depressions extending along the horizontal joints of said boards, and a joint filler in said depressions arranged flush with and gradually merged into the surfaceof said wallboards.

4. Wall construction as defined in claim 1 wherein the paper liner on the marginal edges of said boards is waterproofed to prevent undue absorption of moisture from the joint filler as it sets in said depressions.

5. A wallboard joint comprising the end marginal edges of two adjoining boards, each of said marginal edges having a slot therein to permit said edge to be compressed, said marginal edges being sized and depressed to form a space for joint fillelqand a joint filler in said space evenly merging with the surface of said boards.

6. A wallboard joint comprising the marginal edges of two adjoining boards, a stud to which said edges are adapted to be nailed, a block on each side of said stud and means on each of said blocks to provide a bearing surface for the board at a point spaced from said stud.

CURRY ORA WALPER. 

